Who was William E. Doar?

William E. Doar, Jr. was born in Charleston, South Carolina, October 29, 1911, the third child of William E. and Edna Lawrence Doar. The family moved to Brooklyn, NY in June 1919 and he was educated in the New York City Schools, P.S. 44, Boys High School and College of the City of New York at Brooklyn College – B.S. in 1937.

He attended St. George’s Episcopal Church and Sunday School beginning in June 1919 for a period of over 63 years. Having been confirmed by Bishop Stires in the mid-twenties, he was a Sunday school pupil, Boy Scout, member of the Choir, Lay Reader, member of the Brotherhood of St. Andrew, Crucifer, the Bishop’s Men, Men’s Club, played on St. George’s Triangle Five Basketball Team, later organized the modern Sunday School as teacher under Rev. Horace E. Clute, became superintendent for 10 years, originated the weekly Church Bulletin and edited it for 10 years, became a Vestryman and in 24 years on the vestry served as Jr. Warden for 9 years and Senior Warden for 12 years. He served as Chairman of the Finance and Salary Standards Committee, the Committee on Criteria for the position of Church Secretary, on the Budget Committee and as Delegate to various Diocesan Conventions.During his lifetime, he took steps to initiate the desegregation of facilities at St. John’s Episcopal Hospital and as responsible for placing the first African-American doctor on its staff. He was a member continuously since 1945 of the United Bowling League of Brooklyn, the league most responsible for the integration of the American Bowling Congress. He helped to bring about the integration of the Nursing School at Brooklyn Jewish Hospital and was responsible for placing the first black youth in the biology laboratory of that hospital. He worked with the late Congressman Adam Powell in integrating the stores on 125 th Street in Harlem. With the New York State Employment Service he brought the discrimination at Bell Telephone Laboratories and Western Electric to a halt with the cooperation of the NAACP.

On February 3, 1934, he was initiated into the Kappa Beta Sigma chapter of Phi Beta Sigma, Fraternity and was continuously a member for over 48 years. He held the following chapter officer positions: chaplain, vice-president, secretary, financial secretary, treasurer and president. He was manager of the New York City SIGMA Basketball Team, New York State Champions for 1936-1938, first seed of the Eastern Region, 1946-1947, Director, Eastern Region – 1947-1949; Associate Editor, THE CRESCENT; National Executive Secretary – for 30 years beginning in February 1949, the title was changed to National Executive Director. He retired after the 1978 convention and was elected the first National Executive Director Emeritus. He is Life Member #5, a member of the Distinguished Service Chapter since 1949, was the fourth member to contribute $1,000 to the National Headquarters Fund. He has received many SIGMA Awards such as Social Action, Longevity, Eastern Region Service, and originated the SIGMA JOURNAL and the Metropolitan Interfraternal Bulletin. He served as the National Delegate to the National Pan Hellenic Council, Inc. from 1960 to 1978 and National Secretary for three years, 1965, 1967 and 1968. He originated and published the National Pan Hellenic Newsletter.

He was a member of the GALLIVANTERS, INC., a New York based Professional and Businessmen’s Club continuously from 1936 – 1982 and Secretary from 1941 – 1982. He maintained memberships in the YMCA of Brooklyn and Queens, NAACP, Urban League, Paragon Progressive Federal Credit Union and the American Red Cross. He served as a member on the President’s Committee on Government Contracts, was the Chairman of several Community Fund Drives and was on the Board of the Stuyvesant Community Center, Boy’s Club and YMCA. He served with Mary McLeod Bethune as a Supervisor of the National Youth Administration for 7 years.

In 1977 he retired after 34 years with the New York State Employment Service of Manpower Division as an Employment Interviewer, Testing Technician, Supervisor and Employment Service Representative and Assistant Director of the Apprenticeship Information Center of New York City.William E. Doar, Jr. died on July 11, 1982. He is survived by his wife, five children and their spouses and six grandchildren. On Friday, July 14, 1995 the William E. Doar, Jr. Building housing the International headquarters of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc. was dedicated on Kennedy Street NW in Washington, DC.